Replacing thermal compound on CPU...

B

BradF1979

Limp Gawd
2FA
Joined
Nov 27, 2009
Messages
183
What is the best way to do this... and safest? I've read you can use alcohol, but what concentration percentage? Should I leave the chip socketed while I clean it off and re-apply?

Also, which application method is best, pea size drop in middle, or thin layer? I'll be applying MX-2.
 
I use alcohol with a paper towel to clean leaving the cpu in socket, then apply a small drop of paste in cpu and let the heatsink pressure do the spreading.
 
Alcohol will not harm components, but you want as few contaminates as possible, go with the highest percentage as you can find in the store.

You can leave the chip in the socket. Use a lint-free type cloth.

Arctic Silver has an application guide on their website. Different advice based on make, model, and number of cores.
 
i got one of those alcohol pens ... they work really well, but be sure to clean off the compound off the tip of the pen, otherwise it'll ruin it down the road.
 
I got everything cleaned up and put about a pea size dab in the middle of my i5. Switched out the stock cooler for the Hyper 212 + and my load temps dropped 20c. Very nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top